Hidden dry riser cabinet

[Mar62]

Hi can anyone point me in right direction to find any info or standard to say that dry riser cabinets must remain red, conspicuous etc etc. A client of mine has covered theirs in the same wall covering as the wall and now they are hard to see even in good light, never mind when in smoke atmosphere or in the dark. I've looked in a few standards incl 9999 but couldn't see anything. Thanks

[nearlythere]

Hi can anyone point me in right direction to find any info or standard to say that dry riser cabinets must remain red, conspicuous etc etc. A client of mine has covered theirs in the same wall covering as the wall and now they are hard to see even in good light, never mind when in smoke atmosphere or in the dark. I've looked in a few standards incl 9999 but couldn't see anything. Thanks

You should check out BS9990 and BS5306 Pt 3 & 8.

I would doubt the box must be a particular colour but it should be identified by suitable signage.

[Dinnertime Dave]

without  checking I seem to recall that ADB says that the inlet should be on the face of the building and visible from the appliance.

[Tom Sutton]

As NT has said BS 9990 is the principle standard and reference is made to BS 1710, BS 5499-1 and BS 5499-5 regarding signage.

[CivvyFSO]

Assuming that it is the outlets you are talking about:

Chances are that at the building regs stage the provision under B5 was deemed to comply with the building regulations due to the boxes being installed to a particular standard. (Whether BS5306 or BS9990) That standard will have referenced BS 5041-4:1975 as a suitable standard for the design of the box containing the riser. That British Standard specifies the signage, and even the wording and colour of the wording that should be applied to the box. This, in my opinion, means that the application of a british standard is then inherent in the building regulations approval.

If this was a requirement at the building regs stage, then we should be able to enforce the reinstatement of suitable signage etc under article 38. I would suggest that the facilites are not in an efficient state.

[Mar62]

Sorry for delay in replying, but thanks for your answers!

[Big A]

Present day high-rise firefighting tactics would mean that the FRS would not be searching for a DRM outlet in smoky conditions as they will have 'set in' to an outlet at least one floor below the fire-floor.

[Mar62]

Thanks Big A........

[Golden]

Big A - which is why I wasn't overly concerned over the outlet I found recently that had previously been in a protected staircase at the highest floor level but was now in the midst of the office floor due to a relocation of the stair lobby! What did concern me was that the new occupiers of the top two floors of the building had decided to put an open accommodation staircase in the middle of the floor - I'm sure the fire service wouldn't be aware that they would now have to set up on the 5th floor to fight a fire on the 7th! Do building control ever consider these issues when they agree to such alterations??

[BCO]

Yes, if they ‘have’ agreed this alteration! However if the floors were not compartment floors, what could be done about it?